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The Forum
May 2015
Vol. 17, No. 5
Unique demos slated for June
10 TGoM meeting!
The June 10 Metalsmiths meeting will be held at Cliff Larsen’s
shop just north of Vermillion, MN, at 18190 Fischer Ave, Hastings,
MN. See map page 3.
The usual pot luck begins at 6:30 with the business meeting, iron
in the hat, and show and tell to happen simultaneously. We will
need all the time before dark for our two
demonstrators.
Lou Groth will demonstrate making
forged iron handles for
mason jars. The forge
will be open at about
3:00 pm, and folks can
make their own handle.
For $5 you’ll be supplied with a mason jar and
precut metal, and you’ll go home with your own
mug.
Also, Bob Brown will demonstrate making
“Roycroft” style vessels. Using copper pipe and
ball peen hammer, he shapes textured vases.
Questions? Call meeting champion Susan Wood at 612-7271752.
Iron in the Hat item exchange – June
2015 edition – Barbeque/Fire pit tools!
It’s time again for...
TGOM Spring 2015 Hammer-In June 12,
13, 14 at Nowthen
7:30-11:00pm on the evening of Friday, June12 and all day June
13 and June 14 from 8am till 4:00 pm at Nowthen Blacksmith Shop.
√ Camping on-site is available Friday night and Saturday
night on primitive sites
√ Five forges are open for use
√ Coal will be provide
√ Beginners welcome
√ Port-a-potties on site
The annual Spring Hammer-in at the Nowthen Historical Power
Association Blacksmith Shop is on for this year. Come and hang out
with a bunch of your friends, make new friends, and share/learn
some new skills.
Bring your own tools if you have them. Bring your own steel,
scrap pieces ok.
This year we will have some demonstrations of all things spiky
from nails to RR spikes. If you have some cool techniques or
designs related to working with spikes you would like to demo, or if
you have any questions about the Hammer-in, contact: Larry
Wasmund at 507-469-0205 or [email protected]
There is no charge to participate in this event. The Nowthen
Power Show grounds are located at 7415 Old Viking Blvd,
Nowthen, Minnesota. See map below.
The theme for the next Iron in the Hat exchange will be
Barbeque/Fire Pit tools. This can include anything you can think of
that one might use when either grilling or sitting around the fire in
the backyard enjoying the evening under a protective layer of DEET.
Possible items include, but are not limited to:
·
Fleshforks
·
Spatulas
·
Steak turners
·
Fire pokers
·
Tongs (for food, not steel)
·
Marshmallow spitjack rotisseries
·
Anything else you can think of.
For those of you who missed the last few Iron in the Hats, the
rules are simple: if you want to participate, you make an item of the
given theme (see above) and bring it with you to the June meeting
(10 June 2015 at Chateau La Leprechaun in Vermillion, MN. See the
website or Forums for more details). Everyone participating gets
their names drawn from a hat. Someone goes home with your item
and you go home with some else’s.
So let your imagination run free and try something you have
never attempted before. The point of the exercise it to give people an
excuse to make something and to forge bonds between fellow
Guilders. Any questions, comments, or peals of derisive laughter, my
phone and email are always open: Martin Pansch 612-599-4762 or
[email protected]
Vol 17 Issue 5
TGoM Forum
Page 1
New Members, May 2015
Our neighborhood of smiths
The Guild of Metalsmiths (TGoM)
All membership meetings are the second Wednesday of February,
April, June, August, and October, except December. For these
meetings a potluck meal begins at 6:30 pm and the business meeting
begins at 7, with a demonstration or activity starting around 8 (times
approximate).
President: Martin Pansch
Vice-President: Rick Wessling
[email protected]
[email protected]
612-599-4762
612-875-4420
Our website is: http://www.metalsmith.org
Badger Blacksmiths meetings
Our contact information is as follows:
President: Jared Riesenweber
Newsletter editor: John Grump
715-983-5637
715-835-0894
[email protected]
[email protected]
Lake Superior Metalsmiths
Lake Superior Metalsmiths (LSM) meet the fourth Saturday of the
month. Potluck at noon with meeting to follow.
Contacts are:
Charley Brown, President, [email protected], 218-428-7906
Dave Hanson, Vice-President, [email protected], 218-721-4572
Brian Beckius, Buffalo,MN
Bradley Cripe, St Paul, MN
Robert Oberleitner, Elk River, MN
Daniel Nundahl, Eagan, MN
Wilder Morey , Oak River, MN
Tracy Mickley, North Mankato, MN
James MacDonald, Lakeland, MN
Plow Share Sharpening!
I will be sharpening 5 or more plow shares on Saturday, May 9,
starting around 9:00 am. at my shop, Flint Rock Ridge Forge, 19700
Red Wing Blvd, Hastings, MN.
Anyone interested in watching or learning how to sharpen plow
lays is welcome to come and watch and/or help. It will last about
two hours. Please call or email if you are coming.
Dick Carlson
651-437-3329
[email protected]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This
is a unique opportunity to
experience firsthand an
historic skill that has
become more and more a
part of past history.
Northern Minnesota Metalsmiths
The NMM meets the first Monday of the month at Lake Itasca
Region Pioneer Farmers (LIRPF) show grounds,
1/4 mile east of the north entrance to Itasca State Park.
Contact Keith Johnson for monthly specifics at
[email protected]. The NMM’s website is
www.nmmetalsmiths.org
For Sale
Central Minnesota Blacksmiths (CMB)
Meet on the first Monday of each month. Potluck followed by demo.
Locations are different every month so please call or write for info
President: Ken Zitur
Brian Johnson
320-746-8161
16777 Co Rd 75 NW
[email protected]
Clearwater MN 55367
320-558-6898
UMBA
Visit http://www.umbaonline.ning.com
UMBA DVD-R library
125 different titles
$5 each, $2 shipping per order
Never return them to library - www.umbaonline.ning.com
Update your ‘Guild gear’!
TGoM now accepts Paypal and most major
credit cards for annual dues payment
Mike Frattalone and Darryl Ponder have worked together to add
a “Buy Now” button to the “Membership” page of our main website.
See: http://www.metalsmith.org/membership/
This means the Guild can now accept Paypal and most major
credit cards, in addition to paper checks, for the payment of annual
dues. This should make it more convenient for members to pay dues.
If you have questions as to when your membership expires, that
information is listed as part of the membership directory found on
the online web forum in the “members only” section. Follow this
link to log in:
http://www.metalsmith.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=162
Vol 17 Issue 4 April 2015
Introducing FORGE-APRONS, the
stylish blacksmith apron that can be
custom-sized, personalized or customized.
We offer three designs: the original 36"
bib-style, the short 24" bib with a reduced
torso for petite smiths, and the lap apron.
All three designs can be made longer, wider
or shorter, have pockets added, be personalized with your name or shop name and customized with your own
logo or image. Plus, they ship FREE via Priority Mail in the US.
Visit
http://www.FORGE-APRONS.com to see and learn more about
them.
— James Patton, FORGE-APRONS.com
The Guild has opened a “store” on Café
Press, a website where we set up our logo
to be printed on shirts, mugs, glasses, and
other goods for purchase. It allows us to
make Guild merchandise available to the
membership without the major outlay of
cash and volunteer effort needed to sell
them in a more traditional way.
The Guild gets a small amount of
money on each item, but mostly it is a way to make items readily
available. Items you can order range from multiple shirt styles and
mugs all the way to field bags, water bottles, and even pajamas!
Online store link:
http://www.cafepress.com/TheGuildofMetalsmiths
The GoM Forum
Page 2
Bronze Casting, Pattern, & Mold
Making Classes
Saturday, May 16, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Pattern Making Workshop.
Saturday & Sunday, May 30 & 31. 9:00 am to 4:30 pm: Mold
Making
Saturday June 6. 3:00 pm - Evening: The Pour
Instructors: Hicks, Bettenberg, Brockman, Halvorson
Cost: $120 Class size: 12
Location: Marty’s (HIXWERX) Workshop, 2223 Stewart Ave, St.
Paul, MN 55116
We’ll be casting silicon bronze into two-part (cope and drag)
sand molds from your pattern. For beginners, a flat-backed clay
pattern is recommended. However, if you have something specific
that you’d like to cast, let us know.
Saturday May 16 we’ll look at examples and talk about ways of
creating a pattern to get a successful casting. We’ll also give an
overview of mold making including sprue and vent systems.
You will need to bring: eye protection, leather gloves, and wear
proper clothing.
Send your check for $120 made out to “The Guild of Metalsmiths”
and your contact information to:
Marty Hicks
Contact Marty:
2223 Stewart Ave.
[email protected]
St. Paul, MN 55116
651 492 0899
Acceptance priority for the class is determined by postmark.
Map to Cliff Larsen’s farm
Vol 17 Issue 5 May 2015
The GoM Forum
American Style Hatchet Class
Date and Time: May 30-31, Start time 9:00am
SPACE LEFT FOR MORE STUDENTS!
Location: Pansch Farm (map below)
Class size: Maximum: 8
Minimum: 4
Instructor: Tom Sanders
Cost: $110
In this class students will be
learning to make an American style
hatchet. This style is more efficient in
use than the European style that
preceded it and is one of the first
occurrences of American technological innovation. We will be
working in teams and striking for each other, 2 people per forge and
anvil. Tom Sanders will be teaching this class. He has been making
axes and teaching people how to strike for more years than he would
probably care to admit. This class is an intermediate level of difficulty. Prospective students should have a mastery of the basics and
be able to forge heavy stock to dimension and forge weld with
confidence. It is a two day class and out in the sticks (relatively
speaking) so students are welcome to spend Saturday night if they
don’t want to commute home. There are a few places to sleep inside
and plenty of places to pitch a tent. So join a handful of your fellow
Guilders for a weekend in the country filled with hot metal, good
food and fellowship.
Note: An email with further coordinating instructions will be
sent out to students who sign up.
Bring: Your favorite forging hammer, tongs for large flat and bar
stock, hot rasp, wire brush, flux, striking sledge hammer, flatter, and
top fullers. If you lack any of the striking tools, we should have a
few sets to share.
Safety Equipment: safety glasses, ear plugs and work gloves are
mandatory. Other safety equipment may include: leather apron,
cotton clothing, pants, leather shoes.
Lunch Arrangements: I’ll have some burgers and brats to throw on
the grill. If you have special dietary needs you might want to bring
your own food. There really isn’t anything close by to grab lunch at.
I’ll plan something for dinner and breakfast for those staying the
night as well.
To register for this 2-day class, send a check for $110 made out
to Guild of Metalsmiths to: Martin Pansch
8750 Yale Avenue
Young America, MN 55397
Acceptance priority is determined by postmark.
Questions? 612-599-4762 or [email protected]
Page 3
Warming by the forge...
A report from TGoM’s Program Committee
The April 2015 Program Committee meeting was held as spring seems to be finally upon us. The April TGoM meeting at
Arms and Armor was very well attended and lots of new members showed up. The show and tell got a little overwhelmed by all
there is to see at the shop, but there were always people looking at the show and tell table. Christopher Poor, Arms & Armor
owner, was as generous as always, and hopefully people were able to come away with a few new bits of knowledge from the
treasure trove he has gained and shares. Check out related photos below.
The June meeting will have a demo/activity led by Lou Groth to make a mason jar mug handle and participants will leave
with a ready to use piece. Lou’s demo/activity will start early so check the Forum notice for details.
The August meeting will be at Dan Pate’s again with the pig roast, corn feed, and all the other wonders associated with this meeting.
Specific demos have not been set up yet. The committee meeting still was focused on the upcoming fall madness, as we are expecting/
planning on Lucian Avery and Tim Cisneros to be our demonstrators. There will be another pre –conference class but the details are still
being worked out. We will again be having a forging competition at the fall madness and this years idea is “Bells”, dinner bells, jingle bells,
camp triangle bells, singing bowls,(things that are meant to “ring”). Hopefully that gets the idea across.
There has been interest in trying to plan “field trips” to places that we can’t have meetings at (for various reasons). If anyone has
thoughts about a place to visit on one of these field trips, let us (the program committee members) know. Not sure how or if this might work
but it seems worth looking into. I have not heard of any myself but wanted to keep this idea out there in case someone else has .
Spring is here and those of us with 3-season forge areas can crawl out and hammer again. The “Iron in the Hat” event has been announced, so more plans can be brought forth in metal.
May your forges be hot and some sparks be flying.
— Derrick Phillips
TGoM meets at Arms and Armor for the seventh time
On April 8 TGoM might have set a record for membership meetings at the same venue when we met at Arms and Armor for the seventh
time. Owner and operator Christopher Poor hosted what also may have been a record-breaking number of attendees. The place was jampacked! The potluck tables overflowed with all types of delectable dishes. New members stood up and were recognized. Show and tell items
merged in with the displays of armor in the shop. We had a great time! Below are some photos taken that night.
Arms and Armor
owner Christopher
Poor (center) talks
about some of the
armor displayed
at the shop.
TGoM members look
through a table full of
armored items in the
workshop.
At the April 8
meeting held at
Arms & Armor,
one of our
newest
members,
Michael
Masters, proudly
displays a piece
of chainmail
armour he
created.
Mike Frattalone and
Michael Masters examine
armored gloves.
One of a
multitude of
fascinating
items at the
Arms & Armor
shop was this
15th century
anvil. The inset
shows its
touchmarks.
Vol 17 Issue 5 May 2015
The GoM Forum
Page 4
2015 Struck Tools Class Report! 2015 Mokume Class Report!
We had eight students, and four instructors. Jim Scott, Bill the
Welder © (aka Bill Krawcjeski), George Auel, and Herb Fick
The students expressed sincere gratitude, and were really quite
successful in the exercise of heat treating tools (punches, chisels and
drifts) for their own use. The blanks were prepared in the morning.
The heat treating and final grinding took most of the afternoon.
Jim brought the tool blanks and a raffle prize. BtW brought the
rolls. A good time was had by all.
Jim Scott has now supplied short of fifteen payback classes for
the struck tools scholarship the guild gave him so many years ago.
This indicates that he enjoys offering this service. And he has
suggested that he will do it again. (Note to prospective people
offering to teach and or share what they know.)
Names in the picture below are not in order and one student
escaped. Photo by George Auel.
— Herb Fick
Editorial comment: I think I only need to include the copyright
with the first use of BtW.
Congrats to all the students of the Mokume class. They were all
able to finish their bowls and move on to a bracelet. Instructors were
Dave and Jesse Gavin.
The group photo has been replaced with one of all the items
made during the class and the special tongs recommended for
making Mokume.
One of the best items that was learned - the use of a large angle
iron to clamp the work to in order to grind the billet to expose the
layers. The angle iron can be tilted in the vice for easier viewing
while grinding. It was also noted that if you took 2 flat plates where
the bottom was ~2" shorter than the upper plate - it could be welded
on so there was a 1" minimum over hang on one edge and then there
would be enough room to clamp all the way around. The one used in
the class was ~ 6" angle about 8" long.
One of the students commented, “Learning about the angle iron
was worth taking the class all on its own.”
— Jesse Gavin
Students: Erik Grinde, Michael Pfoser, Denny Covington, Larry
Hilton, Alfred Huf, Wesley Waring, Clifford Steece, Martin
Masters
Build a Gas Forge!
Saturday, June 6
CLASS IS FULL!
Instructor: Jim Moenck
Location: Jim Moenck’s workshop, 2078
120th Ave, Dresser, WI 54009 (Map
below)
Vol 17 Issue 5 May 2015
The GoM Forum
Page 5
2015 Demonstration Calendar
Dates
Event
Location
Guild Champion
Email
Phone
23-24 May 2014
21-26 July 2015
29 July - 1 AUG 2015
Minneapolis, MN
Faribault, MN
Luverne, MN
Martin Pansch
Lou Groth
Larry Wasmund
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
612-599-4762
952-895-1515
651-322-6626
24-26 July 2015
31 July - 2 August 2015
5-9 August 2015
7-9 August 2015
21-23 August 2015
TC Makers Minne-Fair
Rice County Fair
Rock County Fair
Little Log House Antique
Power show
Scott-Carver Threshing Show
Carver County Fair
Almelund Threshing Show
Nowthen Threshing Show
Hastings, MN
Jordan, MN
Waconia, MN
Taylors Falls, MN
Nowthen, MN
Dick Carlson
Jerry Felton
Martin Pansch
Jim Moenck
Bob Fredell
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
651-437-3329
952-873-6754
14-16 August 2015
ƵƚƚĞƌĨŝĞůĚdŚƌĞƐŚĞƌŵĞŶ͛Ɛ
Assn. Steam & Gas Engine
Show
Butterfield, MN
Arden Hanson (casting)
[email protected];
Larry Wasmund (smithing) [email protected]
Le Seuer, MN
NA
NA
Arden - 507-2790443
Larry - 651-322-6626 Blacksmithing and Bronze casting
Full crew but go watch Wyatt, Jim
NA
and others demo.
Dundus, MN
Lamberton, MN
Myron Hanson
Bob Brown
yeah. Right.
[email protected]
507-362-4653
651-457-0086
28-30 August 2015
4-6 September 2015
11-12 September 2015
Pioneer Power Show
Rice County Steam and Gas
Engine Show
Lamberton Hot Iron Days
651-724-3403
763-389-5119
12 & 13 Sep 2015
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days
Pepin, WI
Tom Latane
[email protected]
715-442-2419
Wednesdays, Saturdays,
Sundays
Jackson Street Roundhouse
St. Paul, MN
Gordon Barr
[email protected]
952-894-4821
Shakopee, MN
None - Contact site
manager Rich Williams
[email protected]
rg
763-694-7784
Most weekends Memorial
Day through Labor Day.
Craft focused weekend 1516 August
The Landing
4
2
1
5
3
2
Notes
3
Not open to casual demonstration
but go and watch Tom, Pete, and
Gary demo blacksmithing, Kitty
demo tin work and Sheri spin wool.
Not really a demo. More a standing
open forge with an occasional
visitor.
Costume needed (overalls and white
button up shirt okay).
News from Tunnel Mill
Tunnel Mill is located 85-100 miles south of the Twin Cities in the country five miles north of Spring
Valley, MN on County Road 1.
2
3
Contact for full class details, costs, and registration:
Carol and John Adams
507-289-4189 or 507-289-5246
[email protected];
Website: www.tunnelmillcrafts.com
Classes at Tunnel Mill for 2015
Review: the coffee mill class held by Tom Latane’ in 2014 turned out to be a well attended and popular class. Students were happy with
their time spent. In 2015 we look forward to new classes by familiar instructors. Tom will be teaching another class in May, but that is still
being worked out. Also in 2015 we hope to put on another gypsy wagon workshop. Watch for more on that.
Crab-Style Lock, Peter Ross, June 15-19: Students will make a "Crab" lock based on an antique
example originally made in Pennsylvania just after the Revolutionary war. This type was typically used inside a blanket
chest with hinged lid. The lock involves a number of processes and uses a variety of skills and offers the opportunity for a
variety of decoration and embellishment.
Starting with a finished key (either made by each student in advance or provided at the beginning of class), we will
cover the basic layout, warding systems, making the parts, fitting, assembly and final tuning. This will involve forging the
Crab Lock
moving parts, including the spring, filing and fitting, and the common methods of hand production and assembling.
Students will also be expected to make their own small punches and other simple tools.
The emphasis will be on historic methods (simple hand tools) in both the forging and bench skills. We will also cover typical file decoration typically used in the late 18th century. Students should expect to spend more time at the bench than at the anvil on this project. Those
who choose may use wrought iron.
Don't miss the opportunity to take a class from Peter Ross in your vicinity. Five-day class, room and board included, $675.00.
Note: This information is provided as a service for TGoM members. Members may submit items for sale and upcoming events that are considered relevant
to our group, and they will be published as space permits. The Guild of Metalsmiths is not responsible for these items or events.
Vol 17 Issue 5 May 2015
The GoM Forum
Page 6
Goings on...
A calendar of TGoM events at a glance
„
All membership meetings are the second Wednesday of February, April, June, August, and October.
„
„
„
Date for December will be announced. For these meetings a potluck meal begins at 6:30 pm and the business
meeting begins at 7, with a demonstration or activity starting around 8 (times approximate).
Education Comm. meets first Wednesday of each month. Contact Larry Wasmund, chair: [email protected]
Program Comm. meetings are 7 pm the third Thursday of each month. Mark Lockwood is chair: [email protected]
All board meetings are the second Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November. Potluck
meal begins at 6:30, with meeting starting at 7 pm.
Events in May, 2015
May 2, Hammer Making Class, MN School of Horseshoeing
May 13, Guild board meeting
May 16, Spring Bronze Pour: Pattern-Making Workshop, Hixwerx Studio
May 23, 24, TC Makers Minne-Fair, Minneapolis, Contact Martin Pansch.
May 30-31, American Style Hatchet Class, Pansch farm
May 30-31, Bronze Pour: Mold Making, Hixwerx Studio
Map to MN School of Horseshoeing
Events in June, 2015
June 6, Spring Bronze Pour: The Pour, Hixwerx Studio
June 6, Gas Forge Class, more details upcoming
June 10, Guild membership meeting at Cliff Larsen’s farm
June 12, 13, 14, Spring Hammer-In at Nowthen
Events in July, 2015
July 8, monthly board meeting.
July 24-26, Little Log House Power Show demo op. Contract Dick Carlson.
July 21-26, Rice County Fair demo op. Contact Lou Groth.
July 29-Aug 2, Rock County Fair demo op. Contact Larry Wasmund
July 31-Aug 2, Scott-Carver Threshing Show demo op. Contact Jerry Felton.
Events in August, 2015
Aug. 5-9, Carver County Fair demo op, Contact Martin Pansch.
Aug. 7-9, Almelund Threshing Show demo op. Contact Jim Moenck.
Aug. 12, TGoM membership meeting (corn feed) at Dan Pate’s.
Aug. 21-23, Nowthen Threshing Show demo op. Contact Bob Fredell.
Join The Guild of Metalsmiths
Send $30 dues to the address below. Please circle if you want to be listed in our membership directory and/or check items you don’t want
listed.
The Guild of Metalsmiths
PO Box 11423
St. Paul MN 55111
List Me
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but don’t list
address - phones: home - work - fax - cell - email - web page
(circle items above you DO NOT want published)
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Email address: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________
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We do not sell our mailing list.
ELECTRONIC FORUM
If you have not been receiving an email notification that The Forum is available, please verify that we have your correct email address.
Contact Gordon Barr at [email protected].
Vol 17 Issue 5 May 2015
The GoM Forum
Page 7
The Guild of Metalsmiths on the web
Visit our website at http://www.metalsmith.org
Address Service Requested
Looking for something? Try the search engine. On our home page,
at the top of the right sidebar, enter your query and click on
“Search.”
Forum deadline for June, 2015: Monday, May 18,
2015.
The deadline for content in The Forum is always the third Monday of
the month. Please send items to Georgia Myers, editor, by email to:
[email protected]
May 2015
Your membership expires at the date & month next to your name.
Please send your renewal dues to the above address.
Guild educational grants
The Guild of Metalsmiths, St. Paul, MN, publishes
The GoM Forum monthly. It is intended as a tool to
further our educational mission, to keep members up to
date on current happenings, to publicize projects and
workshops, a place for all members to express their
opinions, concerns, learn more about each other—in
short, to help us run our organization.
Information in this publication is provided as a service
for our members. Members may submit items for sale
and upcoming events that are considered relevant to our
group, and they will be published as space permits. The
Guild of Metalsmiths is not responsible for these items or
events.
There is grant money available for Guild members to study
intermediate and advanced metalworking techniques.
The Guild educational grant program is designed to bring new
skills into the metalworking community. Participants are given
money to pay for a portion of their expenses and are expected to
learn some new or poorly understood skill, and then to share what
they have learned with other members and the public through an
article in our quarterly magazine, “The Metalsmith.” They’re also
expected to lead a workshop on the topic (or other educational
service approved by the board).
Application forms are available from the president or treasurer at
a regular meeting, or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope
to:
The Guild of Metalsmiths
PO Box 11423
St. Paul MN 55111